Beauty experiments can produce stunning results

NEW YORK -- New season, new look, right?

'Tis the time to test out the self-tanner that was purchased but is still in the box, or the liquid eyeliner that you haven't figured out how to use.

These beauty projects shouldn't be rushed, though. Take an hour or two to play with some new cosmetics and to allow their looks to sink in -- mentally and physically.

Most changes, even subtle ones, require an adjustment: Think of all the double takes in the mirror after a haircut. Body glitter or electric-blue eye makeup surely would have a more exaggerated effect.

But the results can be worth it when a beauty routine is successfully updated and one's assets are further enhanced, says Charlie Green, makeup artist for Sephora.

"Don't get stuck in the color-by-numbers way," she says. "Have fun. Makeup is supposed to be fun."

According to Green, one of the key looks for spring is bright, tropical-colored eye shadows, but they require a little practice to make them perfect.

"They're supposed to be a pop of color but they're not necessarily for all over the lid," she explains.

In the Sephora spring preview lookbook, for instance, Bourjois Paris suggests using a dab of bright blue or violet on the inner corner of the lid while the rest of the eyelid is covered in a light pastel shade.

Meanwhile, applying liquid eyeliner is as dramatic as the aesthetic result. To do it correctly, a steady-but-delicate hand and the proper tools are required.

Green recommends using a small, thin brush from an art store; the brush that comes with the eyeliner typically is too thick and will create a blotchy line, she says. (The art brushes cost about $1.)

Use the art brush to dab off some color from the applicator brush. Then start at the outer corner of the lid and stroke the art brush in a thin line as close to the lash line as you can get, going no more than two-thirds of the way in. If you want to create more of a "cat eye," use the eyeliner only to cover the outer one-third of the lid and then use the brush to create a short upward "wing" that extends past the outer corner.

New users of liquid eyeliner may want to opt for softer colors, including brown or taupe, than traditional jet black, which can be jarring, Green notes.

Another eye-catching look is false lashes. But to keep them from looking too fake, Green advises gluing just a few individual lashes to fill in your natural lashline or take a row of attached false lashes and cut it into thirds. Glue just one piece at the outer corner of your upper lashline.

Another trend for winter that continues into the spring is shimmer. Shimmery powders can go just about anywhere -- the eyes, cheeks, shoulders and decolletage, and even the lips -- but don't put them under the bottom lashline, warns Green, because it will attract attention to any discoloration or wrinkles.

Her tip for applying a glitter product is to put a little foundation underneath it to help hold it in place so the shimmer doesn't sink.

One look that might take a little getting used to but can be stunning is a fairly bright red lipstick blended with a light layer of iridescent powder on top.

The trick of self-tanner is finding a shade that complements your skin tone, which might mean spending a few days trying different colors and products in discreet places, such as the inside of the arm or the stomach.

Tanning novices should use a tinted formula, according to step-by-step directions from Sephora, so the users can see where the color is being applied. Also, wear medical gloves to keep the color on arms, legs and face, not on fingertips or under the nails.

Brad Johns, artistic director for Manhattan's Avon Salon and Spa, says when it comes to hair, there are different levels of color commitment that allow you to experiment in the privacy of your own home without having to fear the results.

"The easiest and safest thing is to go to a (beauty-supply store) or a wig store and get tiny pieces of hair to weave in with your own. There's no risk there," Johns says.

A limited-risk option is to poke strategically placed holes in a plastic bag and put the bag over your hair. Use spray-can hair color to coat the strands. When the bag comes off, you have highlights.

At-home hairdressers will have to live the longest with an all-over, semi-permanent coloring product so be sure to read the directions beginning to end, which should describe how the dye will change existing hair colors, Johns advises. A color's name and the box's photo usually indicate the affect of the dye on gray hair that has not undergone any chemical treatment such as straightening or a permanent -- sort of a blank canvas, he explains.

Also, Johns warns, if you have recently had one of the above processes or a professional dye job, a semi-permanent color might become a permanent change because the hair is porous.

"Be careful. I bet only 1 percent of the planet has virgin hair," he says.